Wash. sex offender nabbed in Gold Coast waives extradition

April 20, 2010

Authorities from the state of Washington have about a month to bring a 67-year-old man in Cook County Jail back to the Seattle area after he was arrested Saturday night at his Gold Coast high-rise on a warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.

Maurice Kuit, who was originally from Kirkland, Wash., located just outside Seattle, appeared Monday in Cook County Criminal Court, where he waived extradition on the felony warrant that was issued in King County, Wash., said Cook County state's attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.

Kuit, 67, was convicted in Washington of felony voyeurism in 2003 and was wanted for failing to register as a sex offender. According to a story on a television news site, Kuit was recently suspected of a scheme in which he carried a phone book, pen and paper and pretended to be lost without his glasses. When he asked unsuspecting women for help, he put the phone book down and then looked up their skirts when they bent over, according to the story.

Records show that Kuit also has prior convictions for failure to register as a sex offender and assault.

Kuit was trying to check out groceries at a Jewel-Osco, 1210 N. Clark St., about 9:45 p.m. Saturday when he couldn't figure out how to operate the self-checkout machine, Chicago police said. Kuit then tried to walk away from the store with the groceries, but was stopped by police and the store employees.

Near North District Officer John Williamson, who responded to the store, said Kuit told him he was confused about how to use the self-checkout machine, and the store employees would not sign a complaint against him.

"He actually made me believe he was ill in some capacity," Williamson said Sunday night.

Kuit had no identification with him, and Williamson helped the man to his residence at his Gold Coast high-rise in the 900 block of North Dewitt Place.

Williamson said he asked a building employee there if Kuit had left any emergency contact information with the building in case building personnel needed to contact his friends or loved ones. The employee told Williamson he had a previous address in Kirkland. The officer also learned Kuit lived in the Dewitt Place high-rise since Feb. 16.

A no-bail warrant out of King County was issued for Kuit on Feb 17, King County sheriff's office Sgt. John Urquhart said Monday.

Using his squad car's onboard computer, Williamson searched for Kuit's name and found out he was wanted in Washington for failing to register as a sex offender.

He said Kuit told police he worked as a consultant for an investing firm, and the officer said he may have been in Chicago looking for more opportunities in his line of work.

Conklin on Monday said Washington authorities will have 30 days to bring Kuit back to their state or Cook County authorities will have to set him free.